Elephant Update: Fun in the Sun Elephant Style

Transcription

1 FALL 2012 The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation Tange Elephant Update: Fun in the Sun Elephant Style Sissy has been exploring quite a bit this summer, going from Dr. Scott s pond where she and Winkie went swimming (as you can see on YouTube), all the way down North Road to the North Well water corral. She and Winkie have been spending a lot of time in Deep Valley Meadow as well, which has one of the most breathtaking views on the property. As you may have seen on the Ele-cams, Sissy has been doing well in Protected Contact training and footwork. She comes over to the corral with excited trunk pops, rumbles and whooshes, eager for the treats that await her. bath from time to time, she has taken an earnest interest in our power washing. During the summer, while the Girls are all out of the barn, we take the opportunity to do some spring cleaning. Caregiver Sara explains, I get way too much pleasure out of this detailed cleaning, but it turns out Dulary likes it as well. While I was focused on the task at hand, Dulary made herself known, swinging her trunk over the gate bars and waving it wherever the mist traveled. As I got closer to her, Dulary finally was able to be fully in the spray of the mist, trying desperately to reach the main stream of water coming out of the pressure...continued on page 3 Caregivers Laurie and Katie spent several sessions this summer working with Winkie out in the habitat as well. One day, despite Caregivers best efforts to spray Winkie with fly repellent, a persistent horsefly was driving her crazy. She tried to swat at the fly with her trunk and then with her tail, and even tried throwing dirt on her back, but nothing was working. At the end of her foot soaks Caregiver Laurie stated that Winkie looked like she was about to throw the bucket at the fly and then sure enough, she did! Caregivers were then faced with the problem of getting the bucket back, as Winkie had thrown it out of their reach. Caregiver Katie recalls, We asked her to trade, hoping she would understand to go get it and bring it back to us. Winkie clearly understood her Caregivers wanted something, and picked up anything she could find and offered it, including rocks and sticks! After having thrown several bananas at and inside the bucket, Winkie finally understood. She went right over, ate the produce and then brought back the bucket! The summer heat has Dulary very interested in water. In addition to swimming in her pond with Misty nearly every day and enjoying a sprinkler Sissy

2 Message from Rob Dear Friends, 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation The Elephant Sanctuary is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), and is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). P.O. Box 393 Hohenwald, TN PHONE: FAX: We would like to express our sincere gratitude to The Sanctuary members, volunteers and staff who work so diligently to contribute their personal stories, their design talents and aweinspiring photography, without which this publication would not be possible. This edition of Trunklines is a snapshot of everything that is sanctuary. We happily celebrate all of our Girls with an Adopt an Elephant Campaign, sadly note the first anniversary of Bella s passing and check up on Bella s best friend, Tarra, our founding elephant. We honor the elephants who in sanctuary have coped with and overcome their handicaps. Even if we can t help an elephant by giving them sanctuary, we still have a duty to them. We d love to have Ramba, who s currently in Chile, for instance. But in the meantime, we re pleased to be able to help her caregivers tend to her needs and we re delighted to get an update straight from Scott himself, Co-founder of our Sanctuary. Our Caregivers know of your generosity better than anyone else and have joined with our administrative staff to bring you their three-months-early letter to Santa a Wish List of things they need to make the Girls and their lives easier! Our Mission The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, founded in 1995, is the nation s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered elephants. It operates on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee 85 miles southwest of Nashville. The Elephant Sanctuary exists for two reasons: 2 To provide a haven for old, sick, or needy elephants in a setting of green pastures, hardwood forests, spring-fed ponds, and heated barns for cold winter nights. To provide education about the crisis facing these social, sensitive, passionately intense, playful, complex, exceedingly intelligent, and endangered creatures. To learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary and all of the resident elephants, visit: One particular Wish List contributor stands out at this time. Fay Morris, who passed away peacefully on August 28th, 2012 at the age of 82, was a tireless supporter of and contributor to The Sanctuary. Her dedication was humbling, her devotion was inspirational and her legacy will be timeless. Our words of thanks to her and sympathy to her family do not begin to approach our debt to her. Trunklines is always ultimately about the Girls, but this time we add another grand lady to their magnificent ranks. Thank you, Fay, this one s for you too. Rob Atkinson, CEO In This Issue Elephant Update...1 Message From Rob...2 How is Tarra Doing?...6 Update on Ramba...7 Finding Sanctuary: Elephants in Need. 7 What Truly Defines an Elephant?...8 Supporter s Spotlight: In Memory of Fay Morris...9 What s Happening at the Welcome Center The Sanctuary Broadcasts Live on November Adopt an Elephant Campaign Ways You Can Help Wish List... 15

3 Elephant Update: Fun in the Sun Elephant Style (Cont. from pg. 1) Dulary and Misty washer. As much as I wanted her to have a drink and enjoy the water, I kept it out of her reach, worried the pressure would hurt her trunk. I wasn t able to finish because her trunk kept getting in the way, so I gave up and sprayed the ground away from her, allowing her to bask in the mist of the pressure washer. While she foiled my cleaning efforts, she made cleaning even more fun! And she gave new meaning to the term nosey! Misty recently strayed from her usual schedule of napping and swimming to cause a bit of mischief One afternoon, Misty spent a long time examining a fence post that maintenance had recently put up, bopping it with sticks to test its strength, and eventually attempting to dislodge it from the ground. After she spent all afternoon trying to figure it out, Caregivers discovered that Misty had successfully broken the post at ground level, and then after playing with it for awhile, left it where it was to pursue other adventures. This is particularly funny because this sort of mischief isn t characteristic for Misty it s usually her buddy Dulary that we find trying to unscrew things with her trunk or trying to pull locks apart. When we discovered that Misty had successfully taken the post out of the ground, we just had to laugh, and of course install a new one! said Caregiver Brianna. Tarra spent her summer wandering to the far reaches of The Sanctuary and it can take hours to find her, even with 13 Elecams throughout the habitat. Caregivers have to develop their tracking skills to keep up with this lady: a broken branch here, a fresh pile of elephant poo over there, an elephant footprint all provide clues to tracking Tarra while she is exploring the habitat with her friends, especially Shirley who continues to enjoy sanctuary at her own pace. Shirley s pace varies from playful tail biting, ear pulling and hip checking sister time with Tarra, to the much slower days when she enjoys Tarra long naps between eating, drinking and mudding. People are always shocked by the sight of her broken leg, and often ask if she puts any pressure on it. Over the past 30 years she has adapted very well to her impediment. She takes a step with each front foot, then her good back foot, then two more with her front feet before making a big long stride with her bad leg, thus gaining maximum distance with minimal use of her handicapped limb. Caregiver Laurie points out, She wanders more than most of the Girls at Asia which leads me to believe two things: her pain is controlled, and her desire to experience all that The Sanctuary has to offer is as strong and impressive as everything else about her. Flora & Tange: Things stayed pretty quiet at the African barn over the summer. The Girls spent a lot of time by the barn this year, which was a little unusual for them. There were many days where the barn gave them relief from the hot summer weather, including multiple elephant made mud-wallows, fire-hose showers, and icy cold watermelon. Winkie...continued on page 4 3

4 Elephant Update: Fun in the Sun Elephant Style...(Cont. from pg. 3) Who can blame them for wanting to take advantage of those refreshers? According to her Caregivers, Flora, who is celebrating her 30th birthday this year, has been a rock star this summer with her PC training! Flora s transition to sanctuary has been slow over the years but she made great strides this summer! Caregiver Kristy explained, She trusted us enough to finally go into the chute for a weigh-in for the first time since she arrived at The Sanctuary. She weighed an amazing 9,450 lbs.! We could not be more proud of her. Caregiver Kristy recently moved over from the Asian Barn and has learned a lot about our African Ladies this summer. Flora has a cute way of letting you know you re in her good graces she will bring you little gifts like rocks or sticks. If you are not in her favor, she will likely throw them at you instead of handing them over gently You can see the mischievousness in her eyes while other times, you just look at her and see the baby in her face. Tange has ways to let you know she s comfortable with you as well. She will turn her elephant rump towards you for a pat, resting one of her back feet against her other leg, completely relaxed. She also prefers you to stick her watermelon or hay into her mouth instead of laying it on Flora and Tange the ground. When being approached with a large treat she will open her mouth wide as if to say in here please.. I can t describe how wonderful it feels to have been a part of breaking through some of the Girls barriers. It s so special when you get those one-on-one tender moments with the Girls. I like to do this with Tange most often as sometimes all the attention goes to Flora first, as she is the dominant elephant. When Flora is off doing her thing and Tange is behind the barn, I will sneak Tange a tasty treat and spend some time talking to her quietly. Those quiet one-on-one moments just make your bond with the Girls that much stronger. 4 Billie

5 washing down the barn with the fire hose, she ll walk right up to the front of the stall as if to say, I m ready! When giving a bath to most of the Girls, it can be hard to get their back ends or the tops of their backs because they love getting the hose sprayed into their mouths. But Minnie does what Caregivers like to call the hokey pokey during her baths. Without being asked, Minnie will lift up the right foot, then the left foot, and slowly spin in circles, making it easy to get every inch of her wet. She will lower her head so Caregivers can reach every spot on her back with the hose. She especially loves to stomp in the puddles in her stall she is truly a water Girl! Frieda As summer comes to a close, the ladies of Q have been taking every opportunity to participate in a few last summertime activities. Frieda, Liz, and Billie have been celebrating the end of summer in their newly renovated pond! Recently Billie was caught by her caregivers sitting (that s right sitting!) in the middle of her pond. Lead Caregiver Kelly tried to hold the video camera still as she laughed at the sight and videotaped Billie s relaxing mud bath. Frieda chooses to use the pond as a wading pool. She is frequently spotted walking carefully through the pond by her Caregivers. Liz loves to suck up the water from her pond and spray it all over her body. By the time she is done she doesn t have a dry spot on her body, proving that her partially paralyzed trunk isn t going to stop her from having fun! One of Minnie s favorite ways to start her day is with a morning bath as well. Once she sees her Caregivers Minnie As always, Minnie has enjoyed her summer exploring the habitat, swimming in the ponds and interacting with her friends Deb and Ron and the wildlife around her. Caregiver Kelly describes her summer adventures: After her morning bath, it s time to go out and explore! We have found Minnie chasing the deer, the turkeys and even butterflies! Everything and everyone is an opportunity to play for Min. Caregivers will frequently hear squeaking from behind the barn and it will be Deb, Ron and Min touching, talking and playing over the fence line. Ronnie Every day Minnie reminds us how special she really is, with her strong heart, mind and spirit. Debbie and Ronnie always enjoy their pond in the summer, and are often spotted fully submerged on hot August days. But, like Minnie, these Girls especially love to get baths with the great fire hose as part of their morning routine. Sometimes they both prefer a brief shower and a drink, while other times what Caregivers like to refer to as a water massage, is in order. One morning, when offered her usual gentle spray from the fire hose to see if she wanted a bath, Debbie became unusually excited and playful. This caught the attention of Ronnie, who was outside at the time. She must have heard the commotion Debbie was making and came running into the barn. Then these two friends completely let loose, squeaking and running in circles as their Caregivers looked on with...continued on page 10 5

6 Tarra and Shirley The Passage of Time ~ How is Tarra doing? Elephants have quite incredible memories, of that much we are certain, but what we have no way of knowing is if they take any notice of the passage of time. We humans seem to be forever tethered to the concept; from the moment of our birth to the moment of our death we mark the timeline of our own lives with milestones of great joy and deep sadness. These milestones are the threads that often shine the brightest in the tapestry of our lives. The scars of the sad or tragic events can be slow to heal and leave scars that we humans feel the need to periodically revisit, like touchstones, before we can continue on our path forward once more. For those of us here at The Sanctuary, the month of October is one such touchstone as we remember, with sadness, the loss of our Bella just one year ago on October 26th. There was a universal sense of loss in our Sanctuary community this connection between us all was evidenced by the outpouring of support and thousands of condolences received from around the world. The common thread to our personal sadness was that our hearts broke most deeply for Tarra and the grief we felt certain she was likely going through. Even now, after 12 months have passed, the first question we are asked by supporters is How is Tarra doing? While none of us can claim to know or understand how an elephant processes grief, we can turn to her Caregivers who have attentively observed her behaviors throughout the past year as she grieved the loss of her dear friend. So, just as you turn to us, we turn to Caregiver Laurie for insight and ask How is Tarra doing? 6 Like the rest of us, Tarra s moods shift with the days and seasons, as do her choices to be in the company of friends. Tarra continues to be most commonly found with her steadfast friend Shirley, and this summer the two have spent even more time together than last. Tarra has also visited the barn a few more times than last summer where she can enjoy the loving and playful company of Misty and the dominant, protective company of Dulary. She has visited with Sissy and Winkie along the Pipeline several times, enjoying being with these two devoted friends who rely on each other for so much. Sometimes when Tarra isn t with her sisters, she seems a bit somber; during some of these moments my feeling is that her eyes tell a sad story, other times they read as quietly contemplative. Still other times she is bursting out of her skin with excitement and will run, spin, trumpet, roar and get so crazy that the ground shakes! Whether found wandering alone, or with her sisters, Tarra is most often found in a peaceful state and will begin doing happy ear flaps as her Caregivers speak with her and look on lovingly. Caregiver Laurie They say time heals all wounds. The stories of the emotional and physical wounds our Girls have endured and overcome throughout their lives lend proof to the truth of this statement. Their amazing capacity for endurance and perseverance in the face of such huge obstacles always leaves us humans in a state of awe. The Sanctuary staff wishes to reassure all of those who love Tarra, that in the company of her elephant sisters and in the sanctity of the rolling hills and deep valleys of her Sanctuary, Tarra is well loved, well cared for, and doing very well.

7 Update on Ramba by Scott Blais Ramba s Journey inches her closer to freedom and companionship There are still substantial hurdles to overcome before Ramba continues on her journey to sanctuary, but there are many individuals and organizations that continue to rally on her behalf. The Chilean winter was difficult on Ramba. Although daytime temperatures were moderate, nighttime temperatures dropped a little lower than her comfort zone. Early in the year, Ramba demonstrated that she needs a little more TLC. Like humans, elephants have their comfort zones of hot or cold tolerance Ramba likes it hot. During periodic visits to the Safari Park, Ramba s temporary home, Ecopolis (the wonderful Chilean NGO responsible for her escape to a better life) discovered that the heater in her barn was not working and that the rubber flaps over the doorway (designed to keep the warm air inside while still providing 24 hour access to her habitat) had yet to be installed. Over the next few weekends, Ecopolis gathered their limited resources and found skilled volunteers to help remedy the situation. During their last visit, there were no signs of shivering, a persistent behavior observed throughout the winter. They found Ramba s barn toasty warm and well-managed. Moving forward, further collaboration is helping us overcome the next hurdle. The Elephant Sanctuary is providing funding for Gail Laule, from Active Environments (a well respected expert in the field of Protected Contact training), to work with Ramba for two Ramba weeks towards the end of September. Gail s primary focus will be to continue training Ramba through protected contact and positive reinforcement with the ultimate goal of collecting blood and trunkwash samples which will be tested to determine her overall health, including her tuberculosis status. We are very fortunate this time around that a long time Elephant Sanctuary volunteer, Barbara Bayley, will be volunteering on a monumental scale, joining Gail to provide assistance and an extra set of hands and eyes. Barbara is also proficient in Spanish and will serve as translator as well, further enhancing the collaborative effort. We have to express deep gratitude to everyone involved with these efforts, especially Ecopolis, a substantially underfunded, yet powerful and extremely dedicated organization, for spearheading Ramba s road to freedom. We re also grateful to Gail for somehow squeezing this trip into her already hectic schedule. Please keep in touch through the website, for updates on the success of Gail and Barbara s trip to Chile. This is one of many steps, but one of the most monumental and vital to Ramba s future. It takes months to coordinate the work we hope to accomplish within a short two-week visit. Keep your fingers crossed and keep smiling with Ramba, a precious gem who deserves more from this life. We ll keep you updated! Finding Sanctuary; Elephants in Need The Sanctuary s purpose is to provide safe haven for elephants in need and to care for them for the rest of their days. There are many hundreds of elephants held in captivity that deserve the chance to experience all that sanctuary can offer them. The Sanctuary is often made aware by concerned supporters of elephants that might need help, or by guardians seeking a better life for their elephants. The Sanctuary s response is always that we are willing to consider any elephant in need and work with their current guardians and others interested in helping facilitate their transition to sanctuary. The time from when an elephant in need is identified to when it arrives can be many years, and it has indeed been some time since The Sanctuary welcomed a new resident. However, we re hopeful that the gap won t get too much larger. We ll keep you posted on new developments. So, as the Toronto Trio make their way to sanctuary with our friends at PAWS, and as Ramba in Chile and Mila in New Zealand both wait patiently for opportunities to move on to new homes, we here at The Elephant Sanctuary are eager and hopeful that all who seek it will find sanctuary. 7

8 What truly defines an Elephant? How Lizzie copes with a partially paralyzed trunk Life in captivity can cause great problems for elephants, from struggles with trust and socialization, to chronic health issues and physical handicaps, often brought on by inappropriate living conditions, years of isolation and sometimes from neglect or abuse. For some of us, such obstacles would seem insurmountable but not for our Girls. These ladies are survivors, taking on every challenge life throws at them and walking forward with determination, strength and grace. Take Lizzie for example. In addition to her current battle with TB, Lizzie has struggled with another health problem for even longer. We don t know when or how it happened, but ever since we ve known Liz her trunk has been partially paralyzed. While the base and the finger on the tip of her trunk both have complete mobility, the middle section of her trunk simply doesn t work. This causes her trunk to hang, with the tip usually on the ground, making day to day activities even more difficult for Liz. But this doesn t mean she can t be an elephant; if anything, her afflictions show us just how amazing and capable an elephant can be. Many of our Girls like to drink from a hose. A Caregiver will toss the hose to the elephant who will grab it with her trunk and put it in her mouth to drink. This simple task is second nature for most of our Girls, but for Lizzie it takes a bit more ingenuity. She can still grab the hose with the tip of her trunk, but getting it into her mouth is where she has to get creative. To compensate for her paralysis, she lifts her head high, bringing her trunk up off the ground. She then opens her mouth as wide as she can and begins to swing her trunk back and forth, gaining momentum. After three or four swings, she whips it right up into her mouth and makes a perfect catch. Then, using her tongue with great dexterity, she pushes the end of the hose into place so she can drink. At other times she may prefer to drink directly out of the trough, going through a similar ritual of swinging her trunk up and into the trough, sucking up as much water as she can, and then swinging her trunk up where she effortlessly catches her trunk in her mouth. Holding her trunk in place with her tongue, she blows the water directly into her mouth. It is truly humbling to watch her. Her eating tactics require similar creativity scooping her grain, produce, or hay with the tip of her trunk, and then, with a quick, hard swing, bringing it up into her mouth. It is always fascinating to watch the finger on the tip of her trunk crawl across the ground to reach for a nearby treat or some extra hay. She can even pick up her favorite treat, tiny little jelly beans, one at a time. She often takes the smallest pieces of food and swings her trunk towards her mouth, but instead of catching her trunk she tosses the food directly into her mouth and she never misses! Over the years, Liz has mastered a unique repertoire of skills to compensate for her paralysis. The Tummy Lizzie Scratch: she swings her trunk back between her two front legs, and then crosses her legs to keep her trunk in place, allowing her to scratch her very cute belly with the tip of her trunk. Dusting: she scoops up shavings that are on the barn floor and swings her trunk to either side of her body in order to toss the shavings onto her back. The natural gesture of reaching out with a trunk to Caregivers for affection or to request a treat comes with ease to other elephants, but for Liz it requires a signature swing of her trunk in their direction. Her Sanctuary Caregivers are always attentive to her needs, but also have a great respect for her incredible independence. Occasionally, offers to place items easily in her grasp are often greeted with a resolute flick of the item as if to say No, thank you, I can do it myself. Having a paralyzed trunk does not make Lizzie any less of an elephant. In fact, she shows us every day how strong, intelligent and capable an elephant truly is. 8

9 Supporter s Spotlight: In Memory of Our Dear Sweet Fay It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of one of our most loyal supporters and a member of the Elefan Herd Fay Morris. At the tender age of 82, Fay was an incredibly active elephant advocate from the security of her home computer. An avid Facebook Fan, she was often spotted posting supportive statements for our Girls and updates on elephants in need like Ramba, Mila and all those waiting patiently for sanctuary. Fay worried deeply about the health of our Girls and as a supporter she tirelessly watched the Wish List to ensure we had everything we needed to care for them often underwriting the costs of Veterinary Care items that were hard to secure funding for. We wanted to share with you the write-up Fay s daughter, Shelley, sent us after her passing. It beautifully recounts her devotion over the years and is a perfect example of how sanctuary reaches across the miles and truly touches people s hearts. Our Mum, Fay Morris, following in the steps of dear Tina, was introduced to the beauty, the peace, the healing power and the miracle of true sanctuary. Little Tina didn t stray far in her new home at The Elephant Sanctuary, but explored what she could with wonder and joy, humour and playfulness. Mum too, ever more burdened by pain, didn t stray far from home. Yet the world that The Elephant Sanctuary offered her through newsletters, webcams, and postings about the goings-on brought her joy, wonder and happiness. As The Sanctuary herd grew, so too did Mum s beloved Elefanherd. As new elephants were embraced and brought into the family, Mum was embraced and brought into the online herd. As Shirley would stand protectively over Jenny, or as Liz and Billie and Frieda would love and comfort one another, the Elefanherd members with true ele-hearts, would care for and support one another. Getting all giddy and silly, every one of the girls at TES Fay Morris February 2, August 28, 2012 Tina would rumble and run, flirt and coo when Scott would appear, practically swooning for his attention! Well, our Mother was all sparkly-eyed and girlish when she would talk about Scott s talent and heart and gentle spirit she was definitely sporting a crush, like all the girls, and let me tell you, an 82 year old with sparkles in her eyes is a thing of beauty! Sweet Tarra, inseparable from her beloved Bella, reminded us of Mum. We called her our own personal dogwhisperer. Her arrival in heaven likely sparked pandemonium as Goldie, Shep, Sandy, Shalimar, Kazoo, Akira and Kaslo danced about her feet begging for attention. In life s passages, challenges, tragic losses and the natural rhythms of life and death; as Misty grieved Delhi; as Tarra grieved Bella; as the hearts of elephants and people alike grieved Joanna, Mum s heart shattered over and over in mourning those and other losses...and yet...and yet...as the elephants taught her, in the face of every adversity, as they had let go of the past and found joy in their futures, she determined to keep her heart open and unshielded, to journey through the heartaches and to embrace the joy of every new sunrise. As the passion of The Elephant Sanctuary family inspired her, she took up arms to battle for captive elephant welfare. With a pen mightier than a sword, with a wit sharper than a blade, with the heart of a herd matriarch, her voice for justice, mercy and freedom could not be denied, could not be silenced. Conversations at home were liberally sprinkled with names like Misty and Dulary and Sissy and Bunny; or Nini, Missiesmom, Mids and Meejaye (and so many more too numerous to mention); we d hear about Scott and Kat or Cathy and Jill; we learned terms like blitz, cam-alert, Q-Barn and Wish List; we know about PTSD in elephants and we know what a Trunkline is! Tina led Fay Morris to a devotion to The Elephant Sanctuary The Elephant Sanctuary led Fay Morris to the...continued on page 10 9

10 Supporter s Spotlight: In Memory of Fay... (Cont. from pg. 9) advocacy and energy of The Elefanherd The Elefanherd led Fay Morris, Sirrom, to friendships around the world. Elephant Update: Fun in the Sun Elephant Style (Cont. from pg. 5) Ronnie and Debbie How can we thank you for the roles you played in bringing to our cherished mother a world of beauty, healing, peace, purpose and joy? How can we thank you for allowing her to step into sanctuary? We simply say, with open hearts, thank you. And if you take a moment to honour her in your thoughts and prayers, then also take a moment to think of every elephant who is waiting to step into sanctuary, Mum would be so pleased with that. She is free now. Free from pain, free to wander far and wide through the fields and by the streams of heaven, dogs at her side, luxuriating in the warmth of the sun on her young strong back, and revelling in the sounds of the trumpets of free elephants, echoing through the hills. So to honour her, in true Sirrom fashion, we offer you this: For nine special years, with laughter and tears, your love filled our Mother with joy With an occasional SOS to get her out of some mess, the computer became her favourite toy Her determination and commitment showed on her face And she would not leave this world, til she left it a better place It IS better because of you precious Mum, and your light will surely not dim With everything you taught us, a professor of life, we ll fight for the Ele s to win. So from Blair, Laura and Shelley, and on her behalf amazement. According to Caregiver Lindsay, Ronnie looked just like she was dancing! I ve never seen an elephant shake their entire body in pure joy like that. She even found a log and started tossing it around, eventually right out of the door! Then Debbie started running up, begging for water. She would put her cute little ears out and put her trunk up. Ronnie must have decided that looked like fun and the two would go back and forth, running up for their quick drink of water. After twenty minutes of this wonderful craziness, I think the Girls became tired. They both slowed down and just stood there enjoying the stream of water going back and forth massaging their bodies. I know I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard at their playful antics that morning. This was probably my favorite moment that I have had working at the Sanctuary. Debbie This is Sirrom, signing off. Over and Out. After discussions with the Elefan Herd and Fay s family, The Sanctuary has established a memorial fund in her honor into which donations can be made the funds will be dedicated to the Veterinary Care Program and all the Girls Health Care needs. To donate to the Fay Morris Memorial Fund, simply indicate either online or on your check In Memory of Fay 10

11 What s Happening at the Welcome Center The Sanctuary Broadcasts live on November 13th What Makes an Elephant an Elephant? The Elephant Sanctuary is excited to be partnering with The Center for Educational Media at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) to make a favorite Caregiver presentation available nationwide. Join us on November 13, 2012, at 9:00 am CST for a live presentation by Sanctuary staff as we explore What Makes An Elephant An Elephant? : Caregiver Laurie talks about Tarra & Bella s inspirational story. The Summer months were a bustle of activity at the Welcome Center Caregivers gave presentations on topics like: Water Sports Summertime Fun, Elephant Style; Girl Talk! An Ele-Orchestration; and What Makes an Elephant an Elephant? We re now up to our trunks planning our Fall activities. October is Elephant Awareness Month and we have a full schedule, including our participation in the local Oktober Heritage Festival that is held annually in Hohenwald. The Welcome Center will be open with special hours and a presentation on Elephant Trunks. Are African and Asian elephants alike? Do elephants sleep? How tall are they? Do they have hair? How do elephants communicate? This Welcome Center presentation provides interaction with Sanctuary Staff, Q & A sessions and incorporates both videos and live streaming images of the Girls through our Elecam system. The joint collaboration now allows students all around the country to participate, to observe our Girls without intruding on the sanctity of their sanctuary, and to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of elephants both in captivity and in the wild. MTSU s state-of-the-art media center offers live and archived educational programs free to K-12 teachers and students available by satellite television, cable and webcasting. Register at to view MTSU s Fall 2012 Program Series. Visitors to the Welcome Center can view live streaming video via our 13 Elecams; enjoy a photo exhibit of the elephants living in Sanctuary and learn of their history; watch the archived videos of our Girls as they arrived at The Sanctuary making new friends, enjoying their days swimming, grazing, pushing down trees and just being elephants. The elephant habitat is not open to the public, but The Welcome Center provides an ideal setting for Sanctuary Staff, supporters and the public to share stories and to watch their beloved elephants in their natural habitat. If you are interested in scheduling a school or community group visit, please lorenda@elephants.com or call ext For a complete listing of events, visit our website at Carol Durham holds up an elephant tooth during What Makes an Elephant an Elephant presentation. 11

12 Elephant Sanctuary Merchandise Elephants.com T-Shirt - $15.00 Our sand colored tee features an artistic grayscale image of Tange and our website address in green. Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) q (XXXL) Youth q (S) q (M) q (L) Blue T-Shirt with White Logo on Chest - $15.00 Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) $17 Gray Logo Tee - $15.00 Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) q (XXXL) Sanctuary Clothing Men s Pocket T-Shirt - $20.00 Comes in forest green with the Sanctuary Logo printed above the pocket and on the back. Unisex Sizes. 100% Cotton Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q(xxl) q(xxxl) Elephant Face T-Shirt - $20.00 Classic t-shirt in unisex sizes, relaxed fit. Sanctuary logo imprinted on the sleeve in white. Elephants.com on the back. 100% cotton. Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) All proceeds benefit The Girls! Use the order form envelope inside this newsletter or shop online at: Long Sleeve Brown T-Shirt $20.00 This long sleeve tee is 100% preshrunk cotton. Logo is imprinted on the chest in gold. Made by Gildan. Unisex sizes. Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) Zippered Hoodie Sweatshirts - $40.00 (Larger sizes $42 where noted) Stay warm in these hoodies by Port & Company with a multicolored Sanctuary Logo embroidered on the chest. Two-ply hood. Set-in sleeve. 9 oz. 50/50 preshrunk cotton/poly fleece. Gray w/color Logo Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) $42 q (XXXL) $42 Royal Blue w/color Logo Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) $42 q (XXXL) $42 Embroidered Logo Polo Shirts - $30.00 Available in stone or blueberry in women s sizes and bark for men. Traditional relaxed look. 7oz. 100% ring-spun combed cotton, heavyweight pique preshrunk. Color q (Stone) q (Blueberry) q (Bark--Men s) Size q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) q (XXXL) 12 Women s Hot Pink Logo T-Shirt - $15.00 Our newest t-shirt is HOT PINK with the Sanctuary logo in white. This is the shirt Kellie Pickler wore on Day Jobs that aired on May 2nd on GAC! Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q(xxl) q (XXXL) Tarra & Bella T-Shirt (4-color) $20.00 Adult Unisex sizes in pistachio green. Youth & Toddler sizes in Royal Blue except YXS Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) q (XXXL) Youth q (YXS Green) q (YS) q (YM) q (YL) Toddler q (2T) q (3T) q (4T) Youth Logo T-Shirts - $10.00 Jade green, yellow, hot pink or blue Youth q (YXS) q (YS) q (YM) q (YL) Toddler Logo T-Shirts $10.00 Pink or blue Toddler q (2T) q (3T) q (4T) Navy Logo Sweatshirt $20.00 This classy navy colored sweatshirt has The Elephant Sanctuary Logo printed on the front in white and on the back. Makes a perfect gift for men or women! Unisex sizes. Made by Gildan. 50/50 cotton/ polyester preshrunk. Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q(xxl) q (XXXL) Yam Colored Hoodie - $60.00 with Sanctuary logo embroidered across the chest. Pigment shades naturally vary. 100% preshrunk ring-spun cotton, unisex sizes. Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL q (XXL) Baseball Cap - $15.00 Comfortable, casual and adjustible 100% cotton with Sanctuary Logo embroidered on the front and website on the back. Two colors available. q Denim Bill q Green Bill Distressed Caps - $20.00 Embroidered with the Sanctuary Logo. Distressed, enzyme washed finish and soft feel. 100% cotton twill. Metal D- ring slider buckle with hide-away strap. q Orange q Nickel

13 Elephant Sanctuary Merchandise DVD Videos All of Our Girls...So Far $30.00 Tarra & Bella - The Video $15.00 Flora $15.00 Dulary s Homecoming $15.00 The Urban Elephant $30.00 Greeting Cards Elephant Note Cards - $10.00 Blank inside; ideal for any occasion with four different illustrations. Mixed pack of 12 w/envelopes. Calligraphy Cards - $10.00 Created by artist Ramya Black just for us. 4 1/4 X 5 1/2. 12 in a pk. with envelopes, blank inside. #4 #5 More! #6 #7 Lots of other merchandise available. Please visit our Gift Shop online at Follow the links on our website to order Elephant Sanctuary US Postage Stamps and Ele-Checks. A portion of proceeds benefits The Sanctuary! Elephant Photo Greeting Cards - $12.00 Blank inside for all occasions! Four different full color photos of the Girls. 12 cards w/envelopes. Stuffed Elephants A Conservation Critter from Wildlife Artists Collection. This collection is authentic and realistic, giving attention to markings, pose and proportion. Very soft! Asian Stuffed Elephant- $ inches tall, our new Asian Elephant is snugglie, hugglie and ever so soft! Stuffed Elephant with Clasp- $6.00 Smaller, 5 inch tall stuffed elephant with a clasp to attach to backpacks, totes and more! 2013 Calendar - $10.00 Each month features one or more of Our Girls with a short story about their adventures at The Sanctuary. Tarra & Shirley are on the cover and Shirley is featured on the inside poster. Important dates are noted. 12 X 12 Holiday Cards $20.00 New #7 in the series features Winkie & Sissy in the snow. Cover says Peace on Earth Sanctuary to All. Snowflakes were added as a special touch! Inside says May your Holidays be warm with love, blessed with joy, and bright with promise! 12 cards with envelopes. African Stuffed Elephant- $ /2 inches long and 3 1/4 inches tall. Pottery Mug- $25.00 Elephant Sanctuary Mouse Pads - $10.00 q Tarra & Bella q Founding Herd q Billie-Sue, Frieda & Liz q Tange and Flora () Brass Bookmark $8.00 Replica of Tange in the habitat. Frost rhodium finish by ChemArt. Sanctuary Logo Tote Bag q $10.00 Beige with blue or green logo Use the order form envelope inside this newsletter or shop online at: Our new Woodland Gallery Pottery mug is handmade in Hendersonville, TN! Each piece starts out as a lump of clay and goes through a 7-step process from start to finish. The Sanctuary Logo is imprinted on the side. Miscellaneous Recycled Econo Lanyard - $3.00 This custom lanyard is green with elephants.com & elephant images. It is 1/2 inch wide X 18 long with a clip attachment made from recycled material. Sanctuary Coffee- $12.00 Tarra & Bella Tote Bag q $15.00 Beige with 4-color imprint Color Mugs - $10.00 q Logo Mug q Tarra & Bella q Ned q Dulary The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is offering a special blend of Sumatra & Ethiopian coffee in a 10 oz. can with a custom label created specially for us! Roasted locally by Bongo Java Roasting Company. Pocket Tote q $25.00 Hunter green, embroidered logo, pockets inside Holiday Ornaments $20.00 Keepsake 2D design made of solid brass in the USA by ChemArt. Comes in its own box with the Sanctuary Logo imprinted on top. q #1 Tarra & Sissy q #2 Tange & Flora Drink Coasters $24.00 Handmade earthenware clay coasters are original sculptures that absorb moisture with NO drips! Set of 4 with images of Liz, Ronnie & Debbie, Tange & Flora and Winkie & Sissy and The Elephant Sanctuary logo engraved into the clay. Dishwasher safe. Car Coasters $12.00 Set of 2 with Sanctuary logo. Fits in your cup holder. Tote Bags Canvas Field Bag q $30.00 Vintage style with embroidered logo; pockets on inside and back. 13

14 Adopt an Elephant Campaign Sponsored by Grandma s Molasses A sweet way to give back to Our Girls! You know the saying, A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down. While referring to our Caregivers as Mary Poppins might be a bit of a stretch, they do work hard every day to make sure that life in sanctuary is sweet for our Girls. Among many of their duties, Caregivers add a little Grandma s Molasses to the grain mixture where its sweet taste is used to conceal the taste of the Girls medications and supplements. Since 2008, B&G Foods has been donating our annual supply of Grandma s Molasses to The Elephant Sanctuary and has also featured us on their website and on their product label. This year, they have gone above and beyond, sponsoring a new campaign to help raise funds and awareness for our Girls. The Adopt an Elephant campaign launched Sept. 4th and runs through December 31st. The stories of each of our Girls are being featured online and in news and magazine articles to help raise awareness of the needs of elephants living in captivity. ElephantsLoveGrandmas.com Animal lovers are encouraged to visit ElephantsLoveGrandmas. com to adopt. With each donation of $10 or more comes a certificate of adoption, a subscription to The Elephant Sanctuary s Trunklines newsletter, a coupon for a free jar of Grandma s Molasses, and an original recipe for Grandma s Elephant Bread a sweet treat made with molasses, bananas, nuts and all the things elephants love, created by Heather Baird of the influential Tennessee baking blog SprinkleBakes. com. In addition, if you make a donation of $30 or more you will also receive a photo and bio of your adopted elephant. Grandma s Molasses prides itself on being the highest grade, purest molasses available and it s been rewarding to see the product used to make a tangible difference in the lives of animals that need our help, explained Jordan Greenberg, Vice President, Marketing at B&G...continued on back page Adopt an Elephant I would like to adopt the following Elephant(s): q Liz q Frieda q Billie q Debbie q Ronnie q Minnie q Tange q Flora q Tarra q Shirley q Winkie q Sissy q Dulary q Misty Donations at or above the following levels will receive: q $ Adopt at the $10 level and you will receive: A Certificate of Adoption A subscription to Trunklines, and a membership, for one year. A coupon for a FREE JAR of Grandma s Molasses, and an original recipe for Grandma s Elephant Bread created by Sprinkle Bakes. Please make my gift In Honor/ In Memory (circle one) of the following: Name: Please mail this adoption gift to: Name Address City State Zip Country My Name and Billing address: Name: Address City State Zip Country q $ you will receive everything listed at the $10 level, plus: A biography of your adopted elephant. q $ you will receive everything listed at the $10 level, plus: A printed photo of your adopted elephant that includes a biography on the back and an Elephant Sanctuary decal recognizing you as a supporter. $ other your gift at any level goes directly to support our Girls lives in Sanctuary. Please make my payment through my: q Visa q Mastercard q Discover Credit Card # Exp. Date: CVS Authorized Signature 14

15 Ways You Can Help The Sanctuary You can contribute in a variety of ways: In your own name or In Honor/In Memory of a friend or family member. Contributions may be made on a one-time basis or once a month for as long as you specify. You can also support The Sanctuary by becoming a VIP Member with a $10,000 pledge, or you can volunteer your time and energy during our volunteer days. For more information on how you can support The Sanctuary, please call us at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your donations to any of the programs below are tax deductible. Shirley Use the form on the enclosed envelope to provide information and indicate which giving program you have chosen. Membership Choose your level and become part of the nation s largest natural-habitat sanctuary for old, sick, and needy elephants retired from circuses and zoos. Members receive a subscription to Trunklines for a year. Give a membership as a gift and you also receive an elephants.com decal for your window. Donor Society $10,000+ Founder $5,000 $9,999 Benefactor $1,000 $4,999 Patron $500 $999 Sustainer $100 $499 Supporter Friends $75 Associate $50 Family $30 Individual $10 Elder/Student Flora Please contact me about becoming a VIP Member with a $10,000 pledge. I have left/ would like to leave a donation through a planned gift in my will. Feed for a Day Tarra, Shirley, Sissy, Winkie, Tange, Flora, Misty, Billie, Debbie, Frieda, Liz, Minnie, Ronnie and Dulary eat a lot of food! You can help by feeding any or all of them for a year, a week, or... $30 feeds one elephant for one day. Just tell us which elephant you d like to feed and how often. For a minimum gift of $30, you will receive an acknowledgment of your gift and a copy of the bio of the elephant(s) you fed. You may contribute in as many ways as you d like: In your own name or In Honor/In Memory of a friend or family member. Contributions may be made all at once or once a month for as long as you specify. $30 x (# of days) x (# of elephants) = $ Name of Elephant(s) Wish List The Sanctuary maintains a wish list that is ever-changing to meet the needs of the elephants in our care. You can help by underwriting a specific item. Here s just a sample of some of the items currently needed: Swisher Postmaster Towable Post/Fence Trimmer Storage Cabinets Platinum Plus Wellness Formula Platinum Plus CJ Swiss Hoof Knives Hoof Rasps Xacto #X135 Carving Routers Ramba s Health Care Package Neverkink Marine Hose Liz s General Medical Fund Two-Person Sportsman 850 ATV Cosequin Equine Powder Steel Freestanding Shelving Units Vacutainer Tubes Cryovials Tractor Supply Gift Cards Envirocide Disinfectant HEPA Airmate Filter Unit (PAPRs) Tyvek Coveralls We have approved vendors from which we order these items. To help, you can simply donate toward an item by check or credit card. Just go to and select You Can Help from the main menu, then choose Wish List, or indicate the item you wish to underwrite on your check and send in the enclosed envelope. For more information call x105 or lorenda@elephants.com. 15

16 P.O. Box 393 Hohenwald, TN Adopt an Elephant Campaign...(Cont. from pg. 14) Foods, Inc. Launching the Adopt an Elephant campaign enables everyone to share in the rewarding experience of giving back to animals in need. Grandma s Molasses is available at grocery stores nationwide and is the highest grade molasses available, made from 100% pure, natural sugarcane juice and contains no additives. Grandma s Molasses has been a wonderful partner over the years, and the donation of this product has been invaluable to our elephants and their nutritional needs. We re thrilled to be a part of this new campaign as it will continue to greatly impact the lives of our elephants. For additional information about Grandma s Molasses Adopt an Elephant campaign, and to make a donation, please visit ElephantsLoveGrandmas.com. Molasses arrives in 5 gallon buckets It s added to the elephants grain to conceal the taste of supplements and medications Then the Girls produce is placed on top of their food bins. ElephantsLoveGrandmas.com For news between Trunklines issues, follow us online! To improve the lives of captive elephants, please contact your legislators. etrunklines: monthly newsletter: sign up on our website or ashley@elephants.com The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee ELEPHANTSdotCOM youtube.com/ elephantsanctuarytn Please visit our website: (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation Sanctuary Much To our Corporate Sponsors EMMA Marketing B&G Foods To our Corporate Supporters Costco Wholesale HAVE, Inc. The Cloth Bag Company